252 THE ARCHBISHOPS IMPRISONED. German universities, with the visionary design of restoring the unity of Germany, were put down; and in the different congresses which were held by the European monarchs in reference to the affairs of Spain and Portugal, Frederic did not attempt to conceal his dislike to the representative principle. His interference with the ecclesiastical affairs of the kingdom, though unquestionably undertaken with a good design, partook so much of the character of officious intermeddling and persecution, that in other times it would most likely have produced a religious war. In the year 1830, he contented himself with declaring that he would not attack the French, unless, by attempting to revolutionize other nations, they should make their internal disputes a European question: peace was his great desire, and he wisely resolved to maintain it by every possible means. His tendencies to absolute government were exhibited by the assistance he gave to Russia, in the way of military stores and provisions; and in allowing the Russian general to pass through his dominions that he might put down the insurrection in Warsaw. He also severely punished his Polish subjects, who had joined their brethren in the vain hope of resuscitating their native republic. A considerable sensation was produced towards the close of his reign, by the imprisonment of some catholic archbishops. By a concordat made between Pius VII. and Frederic, it was arranged that the children of marriages contracted between protestants and catholics should be brought up in the faith of the father unless otherwise agreed. The archbishops had refused to give their sanction to these mixed marriages, when the bride was a catholic, and the bridegroom a protestant. The design of this exception is sufficiently plain; but the zeal of the king for the repression of catholicism was as unwise in itself as it was useless in its results, and partook of the spirit of religious persecution. The prosperity of the kingdom in its commercial, agricultural, and manufacturing interests, was greater than had ever existed before. To attain these objects, he formed the commercial league called "the Zollverein," with most of the German states: this was first formed in 1818, and gradually joined by all the states except THE KINGDOM OF SAXONY. 253 Austria. So successful were these arrangements, that Prussia soon became one of the most powerful and prosperous kingdoms of the continent. Though a constitution was not given to the people, Frederic consented to the institution of the "Landstände," a sort of provisional parliament in each province; which lasted until the advance of liberalism after his death compelled a change. Frederic William III. closed his busy and chequered life on the 7th of June, 1840, in the seventieth year of his age. SAXONY. Frederic Augustus I. had endeavoured for many years to preserve his kingdom from the ravages of war, and carry out his patriotic purpose of promoting its welfare; but compelled at last to aid the imperious and triumphant Napoleon, he maintained a stedfastness and fidelity to the cause he had espoused, which was exceedingly rare in those days of political change. Hence, when the fortunes. of the conqueror turned, Frederic Augustus was taken prisoner; and Frederic William, who was desirous of obtaining his kingdom, endeavoured at the congress of Vienna to get it annexed to Prussia, as a punishment for his fidelity to the emperor. Although this was ultimately refused, the aged monarch was obliged to submit to a considerable loss of territory, which was awarded to his covetous neighbour. After the congress, Frederic Augustus returned to his capital on the 7th of June, 1815; when, to commemorate the event, he founded the order of "civil merit." He now devoted himself to the improvement of his country, an object which he had steadily pursued during his unusually long reign. In September, 1818, he celebrated the jubilee of his accession; and in January, 1819, the fiftieth year of his married life; and died May 5th, 1827, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, and the sixty-fourth of his reign; leaving the character of having been an upright man, and a patriotic monarch, and one who loved and preserved peace when nearly all the world was convulsed with sanguinary conflicts. Anthony, the brother of the late king, then ascended the throne; but no events of sufficient importance to be recorded, occurred under his rule: he reigned till June 254 WÜRTEMBERG AND BAVARIA. 6th, 1836, when he was succeeded by Frederic Augustus II. Saxony, though it had increased considerably in its commercial prosperity, felt the influence of those political discussions which, in after years, covered Europe with revolutionary strife. WÜRTEMBERG. This ancient electorate was erected into a kingdom, under Frederic its first sovereign, in 1806. Being in alliance with Napoleon, there was a considerable number of Würtemberg soldiers in the " grand army" which entered into, and perished in Russia, in the disastrous campaign of 1812. Frederic was possessed of considerable abilities, which had been carefully cultivated. He gained important additions of territory in 1802 and 1805, to make up for the losses he had suffered from French aggression. After the battle of Leipsic, he withdrew from the Rhenish confederacy; and, anxious to secure the good of his subjects, he was busily engaged in preparing the draft of a constitution for his country: when, on the 30th of October, 1816, he was summoned into the eternal world, and was succeeded by his son William I.; the principal event of whose reign, within the limits of this history, was the granting a free constitution to the people. in 1819. By this charter, the succession to the crown was made hereditary in the male and female lines; a representative parliament, consisting of two chambers, was appointed; the freedom of the press guaranteed; and all denominations of religion placed on a perfect equality. Governed by wise and impartial laws, Würtemberg has maintained its peace and security, while other states have been agitated with political convulsions. BAVARIA. This kingdom, which was one of the several German states that assumed the royal rank, in 1806, had for its first king, Maximilian-Joseph. This monarch was principally engaged in arranging the limits of his dominions with Austria; which, after the confusion caused by the wars of Napoleon, was essentially necessary; and completing the internal forms of government. In May, 1818, he granted the Bavarians a new constitution, in which the principles of freedom of conscience, and liberty of opinion were recognised: while certain reservations were made, to prevent undue license of expression. Representative chambers with the monarch at the head, are the fountains of law and authority. "The edict of religion," promulgated in the same year, does not recognise a national church, but grants perfect equality to all denominations. The establishment and consolidation of these and other useful measures, occupied the attention of Maximilian, till 1827, when he died; and Ludwig or Louis, his son, succeeded to the throne. This king had been well trained at the universities of Landshut and Göttingen; and acquired a strong predilection for the fine arts, especially for architecture. When he ascended the throne, he carried on the reforms in the government which his father had commenced, and introduced greater economy into the several departments of the state: literature and the arts were encouraged, and many noble buildings erected under his patronage. From these promising indications the Bavarians hoped that they should find Ludwig a wise and patriotic monarch; but the later years of his reign disappointed all their expectations. The extravagant zeal he displayed for the restoration of conventual establishments; his busy intermeddling with continental politics; and above all, an attachment he had formed for an intriguing woman, well known by the name Lola Montes, exasperated his subjects, who, at length compelled him to abdicate the throne in favour of his son. Thus, like Solomon, by listening to "a strange woman," he reduced himself to a condition of contempt in the esteem of those who were willing to submit to his sway, so long as it was regulated by truth and righteousness. CHAPTER III. The Persecuted Queen, and Discontented Nation. ENGLAND. EFFECTS OF THE WAR. PROHIBITION OF FOREIGN WHEAT.-SERIOUS DISTURBANCES.-MARRIAGE OF THE SPIRACY. 66 66 QUEEN. ADVOCACY OF -DEFEAT OF THE BILL -JOY OF THE PEOPLE.-DEATH OF THE QUEEN.-HER FUNERAL. THE final termination of the long war by the victory of Waterloo, was hailed in this country with the most rapturous delight, after the many years of uncertainty and expenditure through which it had passed. Nor would there have been any admixture in the joy, but for the extreme distress which prevailed throughout the kingdom. The vast sums that had been required to subsidize other powers, and to equip our own forces for sea and land, had |